Nebraska Newspapers

    Monday, December 8, 1953
Pegs 1
The Daily Nebraskan
Editorial Comment-
I'MHAVlNSAN
DID YOU HEAR ME?
ISARVDUCWIIM
MY FEELINGS!!!-
I fun i u; iw
jr, PIS PARW. CHARLIE
CANT HURT AVT7
JfA BROW AND I'M GOING
W MB INVltE EVERYONE
No Real Voice
FEELINGS K
1
K
f A LOUD
,. ( c A, I LIAR! J J I
jfzl J " Sestet
The biggest farce that the University of
Nebraska has ever pulled off Is to encour
age the establishment of student govern
ment and tribunal bodies under the pre
tense that these automatically give the
student a voice In the operation and policy
of the school. Nothing could be a bigger
lie. Soih groups have no real power. They
do a little discussing, make a few recom
mendations and enable a few holes to be
made in identification cards when voting
time comes around for the selection of
new officers. ; ,
When things that really matter to a stu
dent pop up, who makes the decision?
How did you guess? Some 'administrator
who is more concerned about efficiency
than anything else. The best and most im
mediate example of this is the suddenly
announced change in registration. '
Who desired this change? Not the stu
dents who are involved. No, it was the
people who find that things get hectic for
them because they have a couple of large
groups who swarm about the registration
desks looking for engineering and ROTC
course cards at various stages of the reg
istration game. This makes the business
a little inconvenient for the -folks pulling
the cards. Terrible thing!
Efficiency Is a wonderful thing ... in
a factory. It is also a wonderful thing in
school . . . when it isn't carried too far.
The change in registration, however,
makes efficiency a thing to be worshipped.
A-B-C-D-E-F-G may be adapted to a love
song or a seating chart, but its utilization
should end somewhere. Seniority ought to
make some difference. Being an upper-
classman ought to mean something. Once
it did. Now efficiency is all that counts.
Who gives a moment's thought to the
person who has spent three or three-and-a-half
years at the University and would
like to arrange a schedule that doesn't
contain a bunch of early morning or late
afternoon classes? The registrar tells him
that if it is really necessary for him to
have a certain class he may, but it ought
to be terribly vital because they find it
difficult to efficiently place him in that t
mid-morning class. Now if his name were
Abe Administrator things would be fine be
cause he would just about head the list,
but poor fellow he was born into the wrong
family.
If the proposed alphabetical registration
is really implemented, every student on
campus will know that his opinion doesn't
amount one iota. To be an upperclassman
is only to be a step closer to the day when
a person may step up to the desk where
diplomas are given out in alphabetical
order, and pick up a scroll of paper con
summated after careful supervision and
check of his college career with the aid of
his IBM number.
Blood, sweat and tears mean nothing at
the University of Nebraska. Study, en
durance and intelligence mean a little.
Efficiency apparently is all important.
Students- should protest this proposed
change to the bitter end. They should re
fuse to accept it under the guise that it is
worth trying. Changes of this sort made
by the administration too closely parallel
suicide. Once they are done they cannot
be undone.
Wednesday a silence will speak louder
than any words.
Wednesday an empty chair will be an
eloquent voice in the cause for freedom.
Wednesday, In Stockholm, Sweden, the
Swedish Academy will present the 1958
Nobel Prizes. And Boris Pasternak won't
be there to accept the literature award.
Boris Pasternak is Jewish, 68, the son
of a musician mother and painter father.
He was born in Moscow, and in Russia he
has lived his life.
It has been a productive life his poetry
for years making him a writer to be con
sidered when the Nobel Prize and other
world literary honors are awarded.
But It Is not for his poetry that Paster
nak rates this year's prize. It is for a book
"Doctor Zhivago."
"Doctor Zhivago" is openly critical of
the methods used by the Russian Com
munist party to subject their people under
the slogan of world socialism. Because
he is a critical voice among a people who
have lost their right to criticize, Boris
Pasternak will not be allowed to accept
the world's highest honor for literature.
And so, Wednesday, the empty chair
and the silence when Pasternak's name is
called will be the living testimonial to the
troth of "Doctor Zhivago." It will mark
the creation of a new ghost in a long line
of ghosts that each year return to torment
All Empty Chair
the leaders of the Soviet Socialist Repub
lics.
Wednesday, the empty chair in Stock
holm will take its place at the head of fan
imposing army of monuments to the
hypocrisy of the Communist party. It will
join the Hungarian Revolution, the East
German freedom riots, the mock trials
and purges of the 1930's, the persecution
of the Kulaks and the suppression of the
Kronstadt rebellion on a long list of
charges which compose the indictment
against Communism.
At the same time, Russian history can
embrace a new hero. For Boris Pasternak
has decided not to accept Nikita Khrus
chev's offer to emigrate. He will remain
in Russia.
This decision has been made in spite of
the fact that a trust fund set up by Paster
nak's publisher for the royalties from
"Doctor Zhivago" would make him a mil
lionaire if he chose to leave Russia.
The decision has been made because
Pasternak has deep roots in the Russian,
soil. He couldn't write anywhere else, ac
cording to those who know him.
Patriotism has long been a character
istic of the Russian citizen. And Paster
nak's patriotism would put that of most
Americans to shame.
The United States isn't the only country
in the world capable of producing a
Nathan Hale.
From the Editor
A Few Words of a Kind
e. e. hines
A c
Li iL.Ut
e.e.
Sentiment and tradition used to mean
something . .'. even at the University of
Nebraska. Consultations for good will used
to mean something . . . even at the Uni
versity of Nebraska.
But now administrators
have so little respect or
concern for the opinions
of the student body that
they announce sweeping
changes i n registration
without saying "boo."
Not having a vast back
ground in philosophy or
history I can't cite all of
the wise and judicious
comments on Uje care
which should be taken in
implementing change without considera
tion of tradition and sentiment. I do be
lieve, however, that it was Burke who
warned that the existence of an institu
tion or system with a few faults did not
warrant the complete discarding of this
institution or system for one which was
applicable in theory but untried in prac
tice. What previous generations have
evolved contains more collective wisdom,
Mr. Burke argued, than a system which
may be envisioned by one man in the here
and now. , -
This theory has not enjoyed the popu
larity it knew before man's suddenly zeal
ous devotion to technology and tinker toys,
but this does not sap it of all validity in
matters where change means a great in
crease in antagonism without a corres
ponding increase in effectiveness. Many
students are grumbling about the planned
change in registration. Only a handful of
administrative personnel stand to benefit.
Only a few hours work appear capable of
being saved. Little or no monetary gain
stands to be made by the implementation
of the alphabetical registration system.
Experience with school administrators
has invariably -revealed that anytime a
student disagrees with their "wisely
thought out changes" (we all like our own
ideas) that the dissenting student is im
mediately branded incorrigible, dim
witted or as a loud mouth attempting to
stir up a storm of controversy. Almost
never is a student's opposition accepted
as sincere and possibly justified.
No, I do not like the planned change.
Yes, I am getting near the point where
my accumulated hours enable early regis-
tration, but "H" would not keep me away
from the -desk for long. The simple fact
is that tradition ought to mean something
in this matter, that a senior should have
special concessions not enjoyed by the
freshman, sophomore or junior with the
'amount of special concessions working
down the scale, diminishing as the fresh
man level is approached). I suggest the
plan be discarded as a bad idea.
Could it be possible that Cain slew Abel
because be got tir-d of waiting in line?
Daily Nebraskan
EfXTT-EXGHT TEAKS OLD
SSemfecr: Asoc!ted Celleriate Press
IatercoUerUU Press
"topnfentft&ret National Advertising Service,
laoonMwttvJ
Fabiis&ed t: Room 29. Stndent Union
Lincoln, Nebraska
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tnnn twHWi an mtmm period!, By ataamta af th
(ftivertrity Nchnuka nMr tlx aatborltattaa tt
CnnuBit ea gtutfwrt AffMn a aa expmskia of nm
ml optatoa. rBbltaaUna unbrr Um fcrMlrtSm at tk
tmlHwratnlttMi ts Startent PoWlfatinas shall be (w frmn
4lnr)al WMerBJa aa Ih Bart f thm Aslxmmmtttn r
mm the art ml any mmbrr mt th faculty mf th EaJ
eajaKy. Ze mmmtn mt tttm Ktoraakae Mall act fan
Many tavamribla far what Char ear, ar tm mt can ta
to BTtotcd. rebraary S. 1S.
eabaarbllaa rate an U per aeoMaMr ar ft tor the
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Entarad u aeoni (Ian flutter at tha aact efflnt la
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IDITOB1AI. STAFF
rMltae..., ..h..mmm..mmwm. .Knajl fflnaa
Maaactrf EAtw Georo Mayer
ftwlc Staff Write. Emmie Umpa
Snorta Mitar BaftdaB Lambert
Opy eter CarraB Eraaa, Diana Harwell.
KaaMIra Kslly, Gretcbea Sleet.
Staff Writer MarOya Coffey.
femora Wbataa, Wjma Sarithberter.
Staff rbstorrapbar Mmaett Taylor
BUSINESS STAFF
Biminm Haoacer Jerry Sellrntle
AMiatauet Bwuaoas Maaaren fttaa Kalmaa.
Charles Grow, Norm Rohlfinc
Clrunaitlna. fasahacMMurxaac. .'rrry Trup
BEETHOVEN (DAS
Htorc, IT ALSO SAYS
THAT THERE 15 SOME
WXTA5TOTWStWB
A0R6 OPXS
BEETHOVEN'S
plRTHPAf
(WRE0RLES5)
The Briar Patch
By R. M. Ireland
Ireland
Registration is bad enough
without having socialism
creep in and remove all of
the privileges I have pain
stakingly earned over the last
three , and
one-half years
o f, devoted
service to my
U n i v ersity,
Sunday
Rrhnnl unit
ROTP i
So far as I
can perceive
this new Al
p h a b etized
Soup Plan
the officials of Registration
Redtape Inc. have devised is
an attempt to deprive upper
classmen (and women) of
their God-given heritages.
And they have the gall to
state that rooms and classes
can be had for all.
Ask an engineering student
about that (I hate to use engi
neers as examples of my cru
sade as they keep knocking
the wind out of me with their
blasted drawing boards as I
scurry through Burnett).
If you are a senior with 192
hours and find yourself with
six classes per week coming
at 4 p.m. you can thank the
'Peace'
Offered
By 'Nook'
Books, Music
Lure Students
Opportunities to sit, chat
quietly, smoke and read are
offered to University stu
dents in the Union Book
Nook.
A peaceful haven away
from the usual campus bus
tle, the Book Nook is located
in the northeast corner of
the Union next to the Crib.
200 Best Sellers
The room is best de
scribed as a recreational
reading room. More than
200 best selling books line
the paneled walls of the
room and 40 popular maga
zines are available from a
rack in the corner.
A Seeburg Hi-Fi record
player stands in one corner,
with 100 long playing rec
ords to choose from. Eleven
new albums have just been
purchased including two
Mantovanl recordings.
Christmas music is being
featured with two Fred
Waring caroling albums and
a Johnny Mathis Merry
Christmas album.
Other records include a
Boston Pops Orchestra al
bum, one of "Ballet Melo
dies," "The Sounds of Par
is" by Melachrino Orches
tra, "Lights and Shadows"
by Al Nevins and his orches
tra and Roger Williams'
"The Fabulous Forties."
The Book Nook is financed
by money from the Union
Activities Fund.
new regimentation which has
invaded our ranks.
I can see it now.
Soon we will have complete
alphabetization here on our
campus where freedom once
reigned, robin's eggs were put
back in nests instead of being
squished, and students were
regarded as humans instead
of IBM numbers.
Admittance to graduate
school will be based on the
Soup method. All those idiots
who find themselves from L
to Z will join the ranks of the
ditch diggers, nevermore to
enjoy the stimulus of higher
learning.
Local honorary societies
will also incorporate this
ROTC- like bureaucracy.
Agnes Aabca will be president
of Mortar Board, president of
Phi Beta Kappa, president of
the Faculty Senate, and vice
president of N Club (Archie
Aabad edged her out).
If you are one of the vast
majority of University stu
dents who regard the new
registration scheme as treach
erous, wicked, corrupt and
highly ridiculous then do
something!
Petition your Student Coun
cil representative. Call the
chancellor. Throw snowballs
at the M and N building. Boy
cott your classes. Drop out of
school
Or do what I am going to
do. Change my name to Arvid
Arf.
a
I see where we can all have
parties now that the Military
Ball has officially opened the
social season.
I didn't think they would
ever get around to it.
Books on Review
ISC Dean
To Address
Convocation
Dr. Louis Thompson, asso
ciate dean of the Division of
Agriculture at Iowa State Col
lege, will address a convoca
tion for all Agricultural Col
lege students and faculty at
10 a.m. Wednesday.
He will d!cuss the future
of agricultural students and
the training they need to meet
the demands of future employ
ers in a speech called "Ag
Students Is Your Future In
Agriculture?"
All College of Agriculture
classes will be dismissed at
10 a.m. for the convocation.
Dr. Thompson has been pro
fessor in charge of the Farm
Operations Curriculum at
Iowa State since 1950. He ob
tained his B.S. degree at Tex
as A. & M. in 1935, his M.S
at Iowa State in 1947 and his
Ph. D. at the same institution
in 1950.
He was a traveling fellow in
Europe in 1935, a senior fellow
at Iowa State in 1946 and 1947
and worked for the U.S. Con
servation Service in T e x a s
during the late 1940's. He has
published a book entitled
"Soils and Soil Fertility."
"The Nature of Prejudice,"
by Gordon W. Allport. Doub
leday Anchor Book. $1.45.
Originally published in hard
cover in 1954, this study of
the causes, nature and effects
of prejudice, has been slight
ly abridged for paperback
publication but still runs 496
pages.
. The size of the book should
not frighten the reader. All
port is one of a seemingly
rare species, , intellectuals
who can make themselves ar
ticulate and interesting to the
layman. The ' subject matter
is extremely significant to
Americans in the wake of
Little Rock and world-wide
tensions resulting from the
stir of nationalism in the Mid
East, East and other impor
tant areas of the globe.
Allport, however, does not
rely solely on the interest the
reader should have. He pre
sents not only an important
subject but he adds interest
ingly written background ma
terial in carefully organized
fashion which enable the lay
man to stick with the author.
Unlike many books on the
subject, chapters do not ram
ble on and on but mostly con
fine themselves to 10 to 20
pages.
The author warns that the
book does not contain the
complete answer to' the na
ture of prejucide: "So great
is the ferment of investiga
tion and theory in this area
that in one sense our account
will soon be dated. New ex
periments will supersede old,
and formulations of various
theories will be improved."
This does not keep him from
warnings that the last word
has yet to be said. The reader
is thus informed without be
ing left with a feeling that
mastery of the book would
make him a master of the
subject.
With so much recent dis
cussion on the supposed poor
treatment of foreign students
at the University, the follow
ing comments by Allport
seem especially pertinent:
"Everywhere on earth we
find a condition of separate
ness among groups. People
mate with their own kind.
They eat, play, reside in hom
ogeneous clusters. They visit
with their own kind,' and pre
fer to worship together. Much
of this automatic cohesion is
due to nothing more than
convenience. There is no need
to turn to out-groups for com
panionship. With plenty of
people at hand to choose
from, why create for our
selves the trouble of adjust
ing to new languages, new
foods, new cultures, or to
people of a different educa
tional level?
"Thus most of the business
life can go on with less ef
fort if we stick together with
our own kind. Foreigners are
a strain. So too are people
of a higher or lower social
and economic class than our
own. We don't play bridge
with the janitor. Why? Per
haps he prefers poker; al
most certainly he would not
grasp the type df jests and
chatter that we and our
friends enjoy; there would be
a certain awkwardness in
blending our differing man
ners. It is not that we have
class prejudice, but only that
we find comfort and ease in
our own class. And normally
there are plenty of people of
our own class, or race, or re
libion to play, live and eat
with, and to marry.
"It is not always the dom
inant majority that forces mi
nority groups to remain sep
arate. They often prefer to
keep their identity, so that
they need not strain to speak
a foreign language or to
watch their manner. Like the
old grads at a college reun
ion, they can 'let down' with
those who share their tradi
tion and presuppositions."
In brief Worth more atten
tion than the time needed for
its reading, (eeh)
Collegiate Roundup
Asia Comes to Syracuse
At Annual Christmas Sale
LITTLE MAN ON CAM PUS
'AY.ftlYUie, 15 THAT MXJK 0A$KET0ALl PLAYER. Y0U'V&
T5LUW6 A16 A0OUT "if
Gifts are pouring into the
University f Syracuse. The
occasion is the annual Christ
mas Sale of Syracuse in Asia
Dec. 8-12.
According to the Daily
Orange, campus newspaper,
items sent ia from former
teachers and alumni include
a shipment of silver and
mother of pearl jewelry, a
supply of pina cloth for
dresses, an abacas, copper
and brass trays.
The teacher evaluation is
sue has popped up at Kansas
State, where the Collegian
ran the following editorial:
"With all the concern over
Russia's educational ad
vances there has been great
emphasis placed on the qual
ity of schooling in the United
States.
"Greater attention has
been focused on student
achievement and education in
technical fields has been
stressed.
"But we wonder if still an
other step could be taken
faculty evaluation.
"We can't help but feel
that students do not get as
much out of certain courses
as they could because the in
structors have failed in their
ways of present material and
or evaluating student per
formance. "The instructor who insists
on lecturing in the same mon
otone voice for the whole
period, the instructor who
keeps expounding on a pet
peeve, the instructor who is
inconsistent in his method of
grading exams, and the in
structor who gives tests with
ambiguous questions can
stand some improvement.
"Why couldn't a system be
devised whereby students
turn m unsigned critiques giv
ing their evaluations of the
instructors . . .
"However we believe the
majority of students are ma
ture and responsible enough
to make fair evaluations . . ."
At the University of
Kansas, the Daily Kansan
bemoans the death of the
good, fresh invective. . .
"In better times, as any
reader of Mark Twain can
tell you, a man just couldn't
get by just tossing off a stand
ard cussword to confruud his
antagonist"
Examples of the type of
"cussin " the Kansas would
like to see a rebirth of:
Two New York papers, the
Sun and the Post,, years ago,
were staging a major feud.
The Sun got in the last word
when it said: .
"The Post calls the Sun a
yellow dog. Our attitude re
mains that of any dog toward
any post."
Other examples: "Instead
of calling a man a nitwit, why
not elaborate and inform him
that his brain was an irre
futable proof of the Darwinian
theory ... or calT him an
eternally blasted offspring of
a misconceived goat."
AF Qualifying Tests
Th Air Force officers quali
fying tests will be given
Thursday, beginning at 7:50
a.m. in the Military and
Naval Science building. ,
: --- you '
JILjP wont
a present
for your house???
IT'S SIMPLE till
M tmrm that (maty aactu frem
MARLBORO, PARLIAMENT, an
PHILLIP MORRIS cijaratt . . .
tha aroanixcj fcom with th most
amprr aaclu vim tfc MOTION
PICTURI CAMERA, Proctor,
Sctmo aaa" all th attachmtitti.
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